Lath-holding strip.



' PATENTED MAY `30, 1905.

N. COLEMAN. LATH HOLDING STRIP. APPLIGATION PI'L'ED Nov. 1o

Patented May 30, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

' NATHEN COLEMAN, OE NEW YORK, N. Y.

LATH-HOLDING STRIP.

- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 791,249, dated. May 30, 1905.

Application iiled November 10, 1908. Serial No. 180,604.

-To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NATHEN COLEMAN, a citizen ofthe United States, residing in New York,

in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Lath-Holding Strip, of which the following is a 'specitication This invention relatesto means for holding wooden laths in position for receiving the plaster used for the walls and ceilings of rooms.

It is the practice to nail on laths by hand, which is a tedious operation and calls for a relatively high degree of skill. Moreover, it is impracticable to nail the laths to a brick Wall or to an iron Wall or ceiling. Where it is desired to make a curve in the Wall--as, for instance, in a corner or at the junction ofthe wall and ceiling-it is tirst necessary to fill in with woodwork, to which the laths can be nailed. Moreover, it is difficult to nail the laths on ceilings, owing to the necessity of making upward strokes with the hammer. Again, when aceiling falls the laths sometimes fall with it, owing to the nails pulling out.

The object of my invention is to overcome these diiiiculties and to reduce the Acost of lathing.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevation showing one method of attaching laths to scantlings or to a Wall. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the structure seen at Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the application of my invention to curved walls. Figs. 4 and 5 show diierent forms of lath-holding brackets. Fig. 6 shows another method of using my invention to form curves.

In the several views like signs denote like parts. p

1 and 2 designate vertical scantlings, to the face of each of Vwhich is attached facewise a metal strip 3 by means of nails or screws at suitable intervals. The strips are similarly formed and may be applied either to the scantlings or at suitable intervals along a plain wall. Each strip is formed with a longitudinal succession of integral brackets struck up from the metal of the strip between its edges, leaving holes 4 in the strip.` Portions of the metal are bent out at 5 to ,form the lath-seats and then upwardly at 6 to form lath-retaining fingers, said seats and fingers constituting the brackets. The tip of each nger may be bent out or iiared, as at 7, to facilitate the edgewise insertion of the lath, and said finger may incline inwardly toward its upper end, as seen at Fig. 4, soV that the insertion of the lathsprings the finger slightly away from the strip, the reaction of the finger serving to hold the lath firmly in position.

In practice the brackets are formed at such intervals as to leave about one-half-inch space between the laths. The strips may be nailed in position, using one nail for each foot of length, and then the laths may be inserted edgewise in the brackets. It will be understood that the strips are inexpensive to manufacture and attach and that thelaths may be inserted quickly by unskilled workmen. The

fingers 6 may be of such Width as to give ample support to the butting ends of two laths, as illustrated at Fig. l. Sincev the strips are all alike, the laths lie parallel and at the desired intervals.

The great savingin cost of lathing a ceiling over the usual laborious method of nailing each lath in place by several nails will be perceived. Moreover, the strip, which may consist of galvanized iron or steel, may be curved to accommodate curved supports, as at Fig. 3, used at the junction of a wall and ceiling or in other places. Usually the strip is sufficiently iiexible to allow of being nailed directly upon a curved surface without the necessity of first bending the strip. The brackets firmly support the laths, so that the latter cannot be torn loose by the weight of the plaster on a ceiling.

In applying laths to dome-surfaces, which operation usually requires a great deal of fitting, it is only necessary to nail on the strips, which may be applied either parallel or otherwise, as required, when the laths can readily be slipped into position. At Fig. 6 is illustrated one method of using the strips to form a curve by nailing the ends of the strips, one

to a wall 8 and the other to a ceiling 9, the strip being bent to the required curve. These bent strips may be readily applied in numerous places otherwise diflicult to fit and the laths 10 inserted without trouble.

Heretofore in applyinga facing of laths to a brick wall it has been necessary to employ scantlings into which the lath-nails could be driven, and owing to the thickness of the scantlings the laths stood at least an inch from the brick wall; but my strips may be nailed directly to a brick wall, thus dispensing with the scantlings and also economizing room, since the laths lie close to the wall. Nails may be driven through the strips in between the bricks to attach the strips with sufficient firmness. This saving of room is of great importance in many instances. Moreover, the plaster 1l may lie directly against the bricks, which is an advantage. The strips may also be attached to iron walls or ceilings, usually by wiring, thus effecting a saving of room, material, and labor and in many instances enabling plaster to be used where it has heretofore been deemed impracticable.

Laths are universally formed with a breadth or height of about one and one-fourth inches and a thickness of about one-fourth of an inch, while it is the almost universal practice to set them at intervals of about one inch-that is, with inch-spaces between the laths-although sometimes they are separated a little less and sometimes a little more than an inch. My lath-holding brackets or devices are punched in the strip at intervals of less than two and one-half inches, so that the space between adjoining laths may be less than the width of a lath, usually allowing a space of about one inch. Although the brackets are thus set close together, still sufficient space is left between the bottom of one bracket and the top of the next to enable a lath to pass, as will be understood by reference to Fig. 2, and although the finger 6 in consequence may not be suflciently long to reach to the top of the lath, still it is long enough to form a substantial support for the lath and to hold it snugly back against the plate 3 or against the wall or scantling, so that the plaster may be applied and held without difiiculty.

My strips are furnished to the trade with the brackets already bent into linal shape, so that it is only necessary to insert the laths, and the brackets are at such intervals that laths placed therein are sufiiciently close together for plastering.

It will be perceived that the invention will serve for lire-blocks as well as for laths.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, lY claiml. As a new article of manufacture, a lathholding strip having suliicient flexibility to enable it to be conformed to curved surfaces, and having devices capable of clamping` the laths, said clamping devices being` spaced so as to space the laths appropriately; substantially as described.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a lathholding device consisting of a thin metal strip having lath-holding brackets struck up therefrom and shaped so as to tightly clasp the laths, said brackets being spaced so as to hold the laths in appropriately-spaced relation.

3. A lath-holding strip comprising a comparatively wide thin strip of flexible material, adapted to conform to the desired surface, and having a series of spring-lingers struck up therefrom and carried substantially parallel therewith, to closely embrace the laths, and sufficiently wide to hold securely the abutting` ends of two laths.

4. A lath-holding strip forming a complete article of manufacture and having a series of integral lath-holders each comprising a seat and a linger, the linger standing at a distance of about one-fourth of an inch from the strip and substantially parallel therewith; said stri p being capable of suiiicient llexurc to enable it to conform to curved surfaces and corners such as are usually plastered.

NATHEN COLEB'IAN.

Witnesses:

B. C. S'rIokNnY, E. A. J Anvrs. 

